Surprise Inspection Turns Up Fentanyl-Laced Heroin At The Port of Wilmington

Wilmington – A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) led multi-agency team seized fentanyl-laced heroin and marijuana, and arrested three during a random compliance examination at the Port of Wilmington, Wednesday.

“This compliance examination of federally-bonded warehouses at the Port of Wilmington is designed to ensure compliance with federal port security regulations, to detect and disrupt the smuggling of illicit contraband and humans through the seaport environment, to improve working relationships between the pier and participating law enforcement agencies, and to identify and protect our nation and our citizens against all potential threats,” said Joseph Martella, CBP Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia.

Authorities arrested a man on heroin possession and distribution charges during a Customs and Border Protection-led multi-agency compliance inspection at the Port of Wilmington, Del., April 18, 2018. Fentanyl-laced heroin seized during multi-agency inspection.

A Customs bonded warehouse is a building or other secured area in which imported dutiable merchandise may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty for up to 5 years from the date of importation. Upon entry of goods into the warehouse, the warehouse proprietor incurs a liability for the merchandise under a warehouse bond.

Authorities arrested a man near one warehouse who was in possession of a distributable amount of fentanyl-laced heroin, according to officials.

Authorities discovered a combined 62 grams of marijuana in the possession of two additional men near another warehouse, said officials. Neither man was arrested. Authorities seized the marijuana and escorted the men off the port facility.

While inspecting Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards of arriving port workers, authorities detected two men with outstanding Delaware arrest warrants. Delaware State Police troopers took custody of the two men.

“Customs and Border Protection, and our federal and local law enforcement partners routinely conduct random homeland security and regulatory compliance inspections with a singular goal in mind – to protect our nation and the citizens we serve,” said Casey Owen Durst, Director, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore.

CBP’s border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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